Are you missing teeth and considering getting dental implants, bridges, or dentures? When it comes to choosing the superior teeth replacement method, patients and dentists alike agree that dental implants reign supreme. Implant teeth are made of three components: a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The post is the actual implant which we insert into your jawbone below the gum line, and the crown is the visible part of the replacement tooth. The abutment is attached to the post and holds the restoration crown in place. Multiple crowns and full arches can be supported by two, four, or more implants.
Dental implants are the preferred denture alternative by both dentists and patients for the following reasons:
Dental implants don’t shift or fit loosely.
The metal screw of a dental implant is made of titanium which is biocompatible with living bone. Titanium has the unique ability to fuse with your jaw and form a solid attachment, mimicking the roots of natural teeth. This integration of metal and bone ensures the new implant teeth never slip or shift as is often the case with dentures.
Dental implants last as long as natural teeth.
No other teeth replacement method provides the stability that results once an implant tooth fuses with the bone. This benefit makes implants the most valuable option long-term. Secure and permanent, dental implants do not need to be replaced or remade over time. In fact, with proper care, they should last a lifetime.
Dental implants require no dietary restrictions.
As soon as the bone and tissue have fully healed around your implant, the metal post should be fully fused to your jawbone, and it is safe to eat anything you like. The process of osseointegration stabilizes the implant, making it as strong and secure as your natural teeth. The resulting stability keeps implants from shifting like dentures tend to do, and this means you’re free to eat all your favorite things, including chewy and hard foods.
Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option.
The biggest difference between traditional teeth replacements, like dentures and bridges, and dental implants is that implants are the only permanent option. Dentures and bridges are temporary and require replacement or repair.
Dental implants support the bone and facial structure.
Teeth are not just visible structures. Implants function like teeth. The root is the titanium, screw-like component of an implant, and its biocompatibility with bone allows for the implant to be locked in place permanently. Once the implant is stabilized through the process of osseointegration, your tooth replacement is permanent. The function of implants and teeth in the bone is what preserves and maintains your jaw and facial structure. Bridges and dentures predispose the jaws to deterioration and resorption or atrophy. This leads to an aging appearance.
Dental implants function like natural teeth.
Not only do implant teeth have screws that serve as anchors, much like roots of natural teeth, but the screws completely fuse with the jawbone, allowing the implants to feel and function like your natural teeth. The resemblance is so similar that many of our patients can’t distinguish between their dental implants and their natural teeth. Dental implants are life-changing when it comes to eating, speaking, and smiling with confidence.
If you are interested in learning more about our dental implants, we encourage you to call our office today!
Read our related blog post on “3 Benefits of Getting a Tooth Implant Versus a Dental Bridge“